insisted that they will not admit the body until they see a police or doctor’s report.
Alhaji Usman ADAMU left and came back with DPO NKEM RAPHAEL of Karmo Divisional Police who ordered them to immediately embalm the body.
We also discovered that the other girls the DPO claimed were on admission in the hospital were not there. We went back to the police station to find out why our daughters body would be embalmed without our prior consent. At the police station, i saw Martha, one of the girls whom i met at Alhaji Usman ADAMU’S house.
She was by the police canter and i asked her what happened to Joy and she narrated the following; ” on the 20th of December, 2016 Alhaji Usman ADAMU called her to come to his house, that he has already called the other girls to help him look after his house help who was very sick. But her elder brother ( Emmanuel, who was also in the police station with her) stopped her from going to Alhaji’s house that day.
But that she sneaked very early in the morning to Alhaji’s house the following day and on getting there she was shocked at what she saw. She saw my daughter , Joy ODAMA lying lifeless on the floor and the other girls were stooling and vomiting. She became afraid and tried to run out of the house but Alhaji Usman ADAMU and some inside the house held her back and brought her to the police station. When i was about asking her further questions, some police men shouted at her to stop talking and whisked her away.
We went back again to the DPO, CSP NKEM RAPHAEL to ask why my daughter was embalmed without our knowledge and that we heavily suspect foul play and demanded for an explanation and further investigation. The DPO reiterated his initial position and bluntly told us not to pursue this case further, that he would advise us to dialogue with Alhaji Usman ADAMU for our daughters burial. He insisted he has nothing more to do with us until we agree to meet with Alhaji Usman ADAMU.
On the advise of a family friend, we agreed to meet with Alhaji Usman ADAMU to shed more light on what actually transpired. On the agreed date of the meeting being 24th Dec., 2016 by 10am, we were at the police station with our lawyer but on sighting the lawyer, the DPO lied that the meeting has been postponed. When the lawyer asked why, he said that the Alhaji was not around and that his number is not connecting, that he will call the lawyer and inform her of the next date for the meeting. Immediately the lawyer left, the DPO quickly called us inside his office and we were so surprised to see Alhaji Usman ADAMU sitting right there. The DPO told us to put off our phones and drop it on his desk , that he does not want the meeting to be recorded. In attendance was the DPO, CSP NKEM RAPHAEL, DCO, SP MICHAEL OBIORA, the Inspector
Crime and Alhaji Usman ADAMU. On our side was my husband, myself, relatives and a family friend.
The DPO was the first to speak. He said if we know what is good for us we should agree to whatever the Alhaji will offer us and desist from further pursuing this matter. Alhaji Usman ADAMU then offered to settle the matter with Three Hundred Thousand Naira(N300,000) and we became infuriated with anger, left home and informed the lawyer what happened. The lawyer insisted that further investigation be carried out. The DPO again called for a second meeting where we met with AIG Umoru Usman Shehu;
AIG Intelligence, Force Headquarters Abuja. AIG Umoru told us bluntly also that investigation in this matter is closed and cannot be reopened. He said Alhaji Usman ADAMU should add an additional One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) to his initial offer. He told us harshly that that is the much he can do in this matter and that is his final decision and it is in our best interest to accept the offer. At this point, apparently sensing the threat in his tone, a family friend present called us aside and advised that we collect the money to give them a false believe that we have agreed to their terms while we go home and think of the next line of action, including having it as an exhibit.
As it stands now, it is very visible the blind and audible to the deaf that Alhaji Usman ADAMU has people in high places within the Nigerian Police Force and have connived with them to deny our poor family justice. So, i am passionately pleading and calling on the government and the general public to come to my aid so that my daughters gruesome death will not be in vain. Investigations has revealed that my daughter,
Joy Odama is not the first girl that Alhaji Usman ADAMU has killed on the pretext of helping them.
I am using this medium to appeal to all to help me seek for justice in the painful death of my daughter.
Thank You.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Philomena ODAMA.
